Car Rental Comparison - Some Points to Consider

When comparing the rates which different rental companies are offering for their cars there are many things that should be kept in mind. Obviously, car rental comparison is not much good unless your basis is the same type of car. Although car models may be the same, the time that one car was first bought and used will be different that of another. This is an important factor to consider in car rental comparison because usually the longer a car has been in use, the more its value has depreciated, notwithstanding the fact that regular repairs have been made on it.

The age of a car can usually be learned from its plate number. Although the method of doing this may differ from time to time and from one location to the next. In any case, people purchasing or renting cars should be aware of how this is done in their locality. This is especially important if the person renting the car intends to go on and purchase it. By researching on the devaluation rate of cars, the buyer of a second hand car can tell from the plate number the actual value of the model he is buying.

Although car age won't matter that much if you will only be using it for a few days, it is still useful for car rental comparison. Both being perfectly maintained, the older of two cars should command a lower price. Another thing you should compare is the mileage that the cars have traveled. The more mileage covered, the more used the car is and maybe the more chance of an unexpected break-down. Of course, amenities and features have to be added up also. Obviously a car's rental price should increase with each feature that is added to it. That is obvious.

But what may not be too obvious in car rental comparison are the hidden fees and the kind of service that the company is willing and able to provide while you have the car on the road. Hidden fees are charges that were not mentioned in your preliminary talks and perhaps vaguely referred to in your written contract. The way they were worded might need an lawyer to find them out. To really make a good car rental comparison, you have to insist on knowing what further charges you can expect over and beyond what the company is charging you at the moment. It is probably advisable to bring along someone who knows about car rental agreements so he can inform you of potential sources of misunderstanding in them.

Another thing you should confirm for a good car rental comparison is whether the rental company is prepared to support you in the event of unexpected car break-downs. In point of fact, they should provide you with assistance in those cases because you are renting a car which should not need any unexpected repairs while you are using it. Why would you want to spend anything more to have it fixed yourself?